"The Lord Our Banner" (Exodus 17:15)

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT – PUTTING GOD FIRST

A group of Theological students were given an assignment to rearrange the Ten Commandments in order of priority. There was general consensus that the most important commandments should be:“You shall not murder.” They also agreed that the second most important would be: “You shall not steal.” The third most important commandment was: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.”

However, there was a division as to which was the least important commandment. Half of the students felt that the least important commandment was: “You shall not commit adultery.” The other half selected “You shall have no other gods before Me” as the least significant. After some further discussion the class agreed to put the “You shall have no other gods before Me” as the least important of the Ten Commandments.

That’s an interesting commentary on the perspective of those Theological students. When the Lord Jesus Christ was asked which was the greatest Commandment in the Law, Jesus replied: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great Commandment.” Matthew 22:37-38